JOHNNY MNEMONIC - DMD no display, stuttering hand - cause?

OP
Quoted from androspl:
Hello Pinheads!
i just got my hands on JM - it looks like a lot of fun but unfortunately is not working well..
First things first after turning on the pin - DMD shows NOTHING. DMD is ok I have checked it in another pin. Different DMD also not showing a damn thing. Ribbon cable to dmd (the one from the driver board) exchanged and still nothing. what could be the case?
I can hear that the ERROR report wants to tell me something but as DMD wont cooperate - I don't know if it's showing DMD error OR - HAND error - which is 2nd issue - after power on - hand tries to move right but after 1-2 mm it stops and "returns" - and repeats this procedure 6-7 times and then she gives up. where to start?
I don't know if it has any connection with the above issues but start button, the one below start, and launch are not blinking - I havent checked the bulbs yet but maybe it is also causing the dmd and hand not to work properly?
thank you for all the help

For the DMD, the high voltage is probably shot. You can send it out and have it repaired, or just buy a $53 replacement board from pinball life here:
https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-dmd-high-power-replacement-board.html

For the hand, if you clean the screw drive it will probably fix your hand. They get "lubricated" by operators, which gunks them up until they stop working. Every one I ever got just needed a good cleaning and worked great after that. If cleaning doesn't do the trick, then yeah, the nuts are probably worn, but I've never personally seen that.

#4 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_WPC#Testing_DMD_Controller_Power

Quoted from PinMonk:
For the DMD, the high voltage is probably shot. You can send it out and have it repaired, or just buy a $53 replacement board from pinball life here:
https://www.pinballlife.com/williamsbally-dmd-high-power-replacement-board.html
For the hand, if you clean the screw drive it will probably fix your hand. They get "lubricated" by operators, which gunks them up until they stop working. Every one I ever got just needed a good cleaning and worked great after that. If cleaning doesn't do the trick, then yeah, the nuts are probably worn, but I've never personally seen that.

thanks, how can i check if this solves the problem? (if you have the time and patience to explain it to a noob i have the dmm of course but I lack education in electronic department BUT i have dissasebled 3 pins before, repaired POA in Indy, Battlefield in Shadow etc.. I'm a fast learner just need to have "instructions for dummies" can I check the HV on the board with DMM? maybe one of transistors or capacitors is dead?

#5 4 years ago

FNG

DumbAss

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 109K 2,978

I'm going to bet (without ANY evidence) your +62V is bad.

#6 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

https://www.greatplainselectronics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=WPC-HVP-KIT

OP
Quoted from androspl:
thanks, how can i check if this solves the problem? (if you have the time and patience to explain it to a noob i have the dmm of course but I lack education in electronic department BUT i have dissasebled 3 pins before, repaired POA in Indy, Battlefield in Shadow etc.. I'm a fast learner just need to have "instructions for dummies" can I check the HV on the board with DMM? maybe one of transistors or capacitors is dead?

You can replace the caps, but they're probably not the main issue. You need a kit to repair the whole section. You can get that with filter caps for $10 from GPE here:

But I think he's OOS right now. Looking at that page will give you an idea of what's involved if you want to try to get the parts local to you.

#7 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
You can replace the caps, but they're probably not the main issue. You need a kit to repair the whole section. You can get that with filter caps for $10 from GPE here:
https://www.greatplainselectronics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=WPC-HVP-KIT
But I think he's OOS right now. Looking at that page will give you an idea of what's involved if you want to try to get the parts local to you.

well too much soldering I think, if there is no option to locate the faulty cap/tansistor I wont be exchanging all of them.. I will check the HV as per the instruction given above and I will order the replacement... but I cannot find it in Europe @ a reasonable price

#8 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
well too much soldering I think, if there is no option to locate the faulty cap/tansistor I wont be exchanging all of them.. I will check the HV as per the instruction given above and I will order the replacement... but I cannot find it in Europe @ a reasonable price

Yeah, you can't just replace one or two parts, you have to do the whole HV section. If you don't it may work for a little while, but the new parts will stress the parts you didn't replace and kill the board again.

What's your VAT/duties on a $53USD board?

#9 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
Yeah, you can't just replace one or two parts, you have to do the whole HV section. If you don't it may work for a little while, but the new parts will stress the parts you didn't replace and kill the board again.
What's your VAT/duties on a $53USD board?

VAT is 23%, customs should not be added due to low amount but transport to my country will increase the price much I think.

#10 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

ok so what about the bulbs? fuse or sth else?

I enclose some pictures of the dmd hv board - any suspicious looking elements?
Also pic of my dmd - can you tell me how I should set it to test dmd power? Sorry noob question.

Here's the situation on hand how it looks after turning on the pin

And a pic of a loose plug near the coin door - it should be like this?

IMG_20200312_165238_1 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200312_165233 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200312_180223 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200312_171909 (resized).jpg

#11 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
VAT is 23%, customs should not be added due to low amount but transport to my country will increase the price much I think.

Shipping is probably arount $25-$30 to poland. The replacement board is small.

#12 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
Shipping is probably arount $25-$30 to poland. The replacement board is small.

But pinballlife doesn't have my country for shipping I cannot find this board anywhere for similar money

#13 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
But pinballlife doesn't have my country for shipping I cannot find this board anywhere for similar money

If you want to have them ship it to me and pay for the shipping to you with paypal, I'll repackage it and forward it to you. PM me if you want to do that. Essentially your two options are to rebuild the HV section or replace the board with a drop in.

#14 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
If you want to have them ship it to me and pay for the shipping to you with paypal, I'll repackage it and forward it to you. PM me if you want to do that. Essentially your two options are to rebuild the HV section or replace the board with a drop in.

Well that is an option if you would be so kind. but I found it in Europe:
http://www.pindorabox.com/zaza-dmd-power-supply-board.html
WPC89/WPC95 option would be ok for Johnny?

#15 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
Well that is an option if you would be so kind. but I found it in Europe:
http://www.pindorabox.com/zaza-dmd-power-supply-board.html
WPC89/WPC95 option would be ok for Johnny?

That's a totally different board, but the price is right and it's close to you, so hard to argue.

Johnny Mnemonic is WPC-S if I remember right, so it *should* work, but I would definitely ask them first.

#16 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
That's a totally different board, but the price is right and it's close to you, so hard to argue.
Johnny Mnemonic is WPC-S if I remember right, so it *should* work, but I would definitely ask them first.

I know that JM is WPC-S.. but that is closest board I found
I asked them, i hope they are not having fun with coronavirus and they reply. if it is not ok for JM then I must order from US - how much would it cost to ship it to Poland?

#17 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
I know that JM is WPC-S.. but that is closest board I found
I asked them, i hope they are not having fun with coronavirus and they reply. if it is not ok for JM then I must order from US - how much would it cost to ship it to Poland?

I'm not sure until I check weight and size, but based on the way it looks, I'm thinking something like $25-30.

Given that they say it works with WPC-89 and WPC-95 and WPC-S is right in-between those two, I'm pretty sure the one you found should work, but I'm not familiar with that board at all.

#18 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
I'm not sure until I check weight and size, but based on the way it looks, I'm thinking something like $25-30.
Given that they say it works with WPC-89 and WPC-95 and WPC-S is right in-between those two, I'm pretty sure the one you found should work, but I'm not familiar with that board at all.

they replied that it should work. ordered already.
hope that fixes the blank dmd then I need to take care of the hand.

thanks for now for help! of course I will be back when I install this board and have some questions regarding hand assy.

#19 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
they replied that it should work. ordered already.
hope that fixes the blank dmd then I need to take care of the hand.
thanks for now for help! of course I will be back when I install this board and have some questions regarding hand assy.

Glad it worked out!

#20 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Ok so I was trying different combinations and other dmds werent working with the dmd board from JM. Only other dmd working is Vishay dmd from my another pin. It has slighly different voltages than the one from JM and is almost brand new so this one is working - so until I get the parts, I want to take care of the hand - and now as I can see errors I can think of something. So errors enclosed on pics. X axis can be rotated by hand BUT the Y axis requires at first much strength. Then it is moving lightly ( manually). But when I turn on the pin It moves back and the Y axis looks like it moved too far and is stuck. That's why it gives error? Please check the pics - should these parts be like this? Or is it a little bit bend? The Y axis can be somehow regulated to move lighter? Any suggestions?

IMG_20200315_215151_1 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200315_215148 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200315_224937 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200315_221355 (resized).jpg

IMG_20200315_221357_1 (resized).jpg

#21 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
Ok so I was trying different combinations and other dmds werent working with the dmd board from JM. Only other dmd working is Vishay dmd from my another pin. It has slighly different voltages than the one from JM and is almost brand new so this one is working - so until I get the parts, I want to take care of the hand - and now as I can see errors I can think of something. So errors enclosed on pics. X axis can be rotated by hand BUT the Y axis requires at first much strength. Then it is moving lightly ( manually). But when I turn on the pin It moves back and the Y axis looks like it moved too far and is stuck. That's why it gives error? Please check the pics - should these parts be like this? Or is it a little bit bend? The Y axis can be somehow regulated to move lighter? Any suggestions?[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

Move it away from the home position. It looks like the switch that tells it when it's home is broken/not adjusted well. Once you have the assembly moved away from the switch go into switch test mode and see if the home position switch works by triggering it manually.

#22 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
Move it away from the home position. It looks like the switch that tells it when it's home is broken/not adjusted well. Once you have the assembly moved away from the switch go into switch test mode and see if the home position switch works by triggering it manually.

I will check it.. and end up probably with taking out whole assembly for cleaning
thnx

#23 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
I will check it.. and end up probably with taking out whole assembly for cleaning
thnx

Defininitely report what you find!

#24 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
Defininitely report what you find!

well I found out that you were right! due to the weight of the magnet, whole hand has tilted a little bit downwards on the right, going up on the left - therefore the switch wasn't pressed at all. I couldn't find the screw to straighten it up so I have bended a little bit the switch and moved manually the hand. SO - hand test still is failing BUT the hand is working during the game. It is a a little bit wobbly but I will work on that. Once again big props and much thanks as I am happy as hell now it is a lightning fast game and I am already starting to love it. I wait for leds, playfield protector and dmd HV board and I will break some records

#25 4 years ago

VIC

PinMonk

OP
Quoted from androspl:
well I found out that you were right! due to the weight of the magnet, whole hand has tilted a little bit downwards on the right, going up on the left - therefore the switch wasn't pressed at all. I couldn't find the screw to straighten it up so I have bended a little bit the switch and moved manually the hand. SO - hand test still is failing BUT the hand is working during the game. It is a a little bit wobbly but I will work on that. Once again big props and much thanks as I am happy as hell now it is a lightning fast game and I am already starting to love it. I wait for leds, playfield protector and dmd HV board and I will break some records

Glad you have it running!

Check out Midnight Madness mode. It's one of the best instances of MM in Dwight's games.

#26 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member

Quoted from PinMonk:
Glad you have it running!
Check out Midnight Madness mode. It's one of the best instances of MM in Dwight's games.

I will have to cheat a little bit and change the time because If i launch pin at midnight, I PERSONALLY will have midnight madness
thanks again for help! priceless !

1 week later

#27 4 years ago

AND

androspl

Inactive member